Chargers to withdraw qualifying offer from EDGE Chris McCain

Chargers to withdraw qualifying offer from EDGE Chris McCain

The Los Angeles Chargers will withdraw their qualifying offer to EDGE Chris McCain Monday, according to a team source. The team originally tendered McCain to a right of first refusal restricted free agent contract on March 14.

McCain was one of the team’s most impactful edge rushers with five sacks despite seeing just 240 snaps in 2017 (compared to defensive end Joey Bosa’s 850 snaps), per Pro Football Focus. Despite that being the case, McCain actually graded out as a much better run defender (70.4) than a pass rusher (48.0), per PFF.

The former Cal product is 26 years old and has totaled just seven sacks overall in his four-year career (36 games) to date. Apart from Bosa, Los Angeles also locked in outside linebacker Melvin Ingram to a contract extension in 2017 thus securing pressure off of either edge for the next few seasons.

The team’s decision to withdraw the qualifying offer drew the ire of wide receiver Keenan Allen, who took to Instagram to share his displeasure while also seemingly throwing shade at the team’s new signing, backup quarterback Geno Smith. Allen later deleted the post.